Process and apparatus for making shopping bag

ABSTRACT

A handled shopping bag having a full turned top edge and reinforcing patches for each of the handles. A continuous process for its manufacture comprises providing a continuous supply of shopping bag material to a constant tensioning means, folding and unfolding a portion of one side of the constant tension shopping bag material to prepare a continuous fold line along one side of the material, applying adhesive to the unfolded material adjacent to the continuous fold line, refolding and sealing the material along the prepared fold line to make a sealed continuous folded edge, applying adhesive at uniform spaced locations along the sealed continuous folded edge, attaching alternately a prepared short and a prepared long shopping bag handle to each uniformly spaced adhesive location, notching and slitting alternately the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each handle, separating a desired length having two attached handles from the continuous shopping bag material, preparing three fold lines substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge across the separated length at two locations, one of the locations being between the two attached handles and the other location being between the handle adjacent to the trailing end and the trailing end of the separated length, applying adhesive across the width of the separated length on the surface adjacent to the leading end of the separated length, holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold on top of the separated length, holding the separated length by the third fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third fold on top of the separated length to form a flattened shopping bag tube, rotating the unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 90* to have the open bottom leading and the handles trailing, forming a gusset in each side of the unbottomed tube by infolding the sides of the tube at the first and second fold lines from the leading edge on one side and at the third and fourth fold lines from the leading edge on the other side, and folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube. The apparatus comprises a series of inline machine stations comprising a first station for mounting at least two rolls of shopping bag material to provide a continuous web of shopping bag material to subsequent inline machine stations, a second machine station having a constant tensioning means for the continuous web, a third machine station having means for continuously folding and unfolding the advancing web along the edge, a fourth machine station having means to print at least one color on the surface of the advancing web, a fifth machine station having means to fold and seal the edge of the continuous web at the prepared fold line to prepare a continuous folded sealed edge along one side of the continuous web, a sixth machine station comprising means for attaching shaped handles with reinforcing patch to the advancing web, a seventh machine station having means for notching the edge of the advancing web opposite one handle and means for slitting the edge of the advancing web opposite the next handle, an eighth machine station having means for forming an unbottomed shopping bag tube, a ninth machine station having means for rotating the handled shopping bag tube substantially 90* to cause the notched and slit end of the unbottomed shopping bag tube to lead in the inline direction of the machIne, and a tenth machine station for folding and sealing the leading notched and slit end of the handled shopping bag tube to form a sealed bottom in the tube to provide a handled shopping bag having a full turned top edge.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [21] Appl. No.

[22] Filed [45] Patented 54] PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING Primary Examiner-Bemard Stickney Attorney-Donald L. Johnson ABSTRACT: A handled shopping bag having a full turned top edge and reinforcing patches for each of the handles. A continuous process for its manufacture comprises providing a continuous supply of shopping bag material to a constant tensioning means, folding and unfolding a portion of one side of the constant tension shopping bag material to prepare a continuous fold line along one side of the material, applying adhesive to the unfolded material adjacent to the continuous fold line, refolding and sealing the material along the prepared fold line to make a sealed continuous folded edge, applying adhesive at unifonn spaced locations along the sealed continuous folded edge, attaching alternately a prepared short and a prepared long shopping bag handle to each uniformly spaced adhesive location, notching and slitting alternately the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each handle, separating a desired length having two attached handles from the continuous shopping bag material, preparing three fold lines substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge across the separated length at two locations, one of the locations being between the two attached handles and the other location being between the handle adjacent to the trailing end and the trailing end of the separated length, applying adhesive across the width of the separated length on the surface adjacent to the leading end of the separated length, holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold on top of the separated length, holding the separated length by the third fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third fold on top of the separated length to form a flattened shopping bag tube, rotating the unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 90 to have the open bottom leading and the handles trailing, forming a gusset in each side of the unbottomed tube by infolding the sides of the tube at the first and second fold lines from the leading edge on one side and at the third and fourth fold lines from the leading edge on the other side, and folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube. The apparatus comprises a series of inline machine stations comprising a first station for mounting at least two rolls of shopping bag material to provide a continuous web of shopping bag material to subsequent inline machine stations, a second machine station having a constant tensioning means for the continuous web, a third machine station having means for continuously folding and unfolding the advancing web along the edge, a fourth machine station having means to print at least one color on the surface of the advancing web, a fifth machine station having means to fold and seal the edge of the continuous web at the prepared fold line to prepare a continuous folded sealed edge along one side of the continuous web, a sixth machine station comprising means for attaching shaped handles with reinforcing patch to the advancing web, a seventh machine station having means for notching the edge of the advancing web opposite one handle and means for slitting the edge of the advancing web opposite the next handle, an eighth machine station having means for forming an unbottomed shopping bag tube, a ninth machine station having means for rotating the handled shopping bag tube substantially 90 to cause the notched and slit end of the unbottomed shopping bag tube to lead in the inline direction of the machine, and a tenth machine station for folding and sealing the leading notched and slit end of the handled shopping bag tube to form a sealed bottom in the tube to provide a handled shopping bag having a full turned top edge.

I PATENIEB JAN 1 21971 PA'TENTED JAN 1 2191:

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PATENTED JAN 1 2 IQYI sum 110F 11 -|9| use PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOPPING BAG BACKGROUND OF THE 'INVENTION Although handled shopping bags have long been known in the art, theirdesign and manufacture have suffered from several major difirculties. Original design shopping bags had the handles folding at or near the top of the bag, and the bag opening was the raw edgeof the paper material used for the bag preparation. It was found this raw edge was very weak permitting the shopping bag to split easily when loaded or partially loaded and also was a hazard in that the raw paper edge at the opening could cause severe cuts and lacerations in handling and use. Many efforts have been made to alleviate these and other problems by providing serrated edges either totally or partially around the open endofsthe shopping bag and by folding portions of the shopping bagedge inside the top of the I bag in a partial'turned-top manner to obtain some reinforcing the handles for maximum strength'and utility. In some efforts to correct these problems, u slots were formed in the turned edge of the bag so that the handles could be inserted through the turned edge. This method removed partof thereinforcing around the top'and left rawedges closeto the handles. lmproved modifications were made also by removing portions of the edge in the area where handles were attached so that the edge could be folded inside the bag around the handles. All of these designs were improvements on'the'original. bag; however, they did not meet the problem fully in providing a full turned-top shopping bag without'slits'or'cuts that would utilize the full reinforcing of an unbroken or uncut turned edge.

Further, because of the commercial: use of a handled shopping bag sometimes as agive away or advertising item, the cost of the manufacture of the bag must be kept to a minimum. Originally, the manufacture ofhandlecl shopping bags was substantially a hand operation; however, as labor costs increased considerable effort was made to reduce hand operations to a minimum. Although some success was achieved in the machine manufacture of the bag and handles separately, their assembly still required hand operation. Also, some limited success was achievedin total machine manufacture of the handled bags; however, until this invention, an apparatus for the continuous inline manufacture of handled shopping'bags was not known.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION body around the entire top of the bag to provide a continuous smooth reinforced folded top edge substantially free from sharp edges. The two handles are attached to the opposed, sidewall sections of the shopping bag tube on. the inside over the folded top edge and-are covered substantially on the inside of the tube by a reinforcing strip attached to each of the two opposed sidewall sections.

The continuous process for preparing the handled shopping bag comprises, in combination, the sequential steps of providing a continuous supply of substantially uniform width, constant tensioned shopping bag material; folding and unfolding a portion of one side of the constant tensioned material to prepare a continuous fold line along one side; applying adhesive continuously to the unfolded material adjacent to the prepared continuous fold line; refolding and sealing the material along the prepared continuous fold line to make a sealed continuous folded edge; applying adhesive at uniformly spaced locations on the sealed continuous fold edge with the adhesive overlapping the infolded edge and the underlying continuous shopping bag material, attaching alternately one long and one short prepared handle to the uniformly spaced adhesive locations; notching the unfolded edge of the continuous shopping bag material opposite each attached short handle and slitting the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached long handle; separating a length of shopping bag material from the continuous material to prepare a shopping bag blank having a leading end and a trailing end, one long and one short attached handle and being of sufficient length to prepare a handled shopping bag tube of desired dimensions; preparing three substantially parallel fold lines across the handled separated length at two locations substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge; one of the two locations being between the attached long and short handles and the other of said two locations being between the trailing end and the handle adjacent to the trailing end; applying adhesive across the width of the separated length on the surface adjacent to the leading end; holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold-on top of the separated length; holding the separated length by the third'fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third foldon top of the severed length to form a flat unbottomed shopping bag tube with adhesive coated leading edge contacting the folded trailing end; sealing the adhesive coated leading edge with the folded trailing end to form a shopping bag tube; rotating the prepared unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 90 to have the notched and slit end of the tube leading; forming a gusseted side on-each side of the rotated shopping bag by infolding the tube at the first and second fold lines on one side and the fourth and fifth fold lines on the other side; and folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube.

' The apparatus embodying the process of the invention comprises, in combination, a series of ten inline machine stations. The first station comprises a mounting means for at least two rolls of shopping bag material to provide a continuous web to the subsequent inline machine stations. The second machine station comprises a constant tensioning means for providing constant tensioned shopping bag material to the subsequent stations. The third machine stationcomprises means for continuously folding and unfolding the advancing web along a line spaced inwardly from longitudinal edge of the advancing web to prepare a continuous fold line. The fourth machine station comprises means to print at least one color on at least one part of the surface of the advancing web. The fifth machine station comprises means for applying adhesive continuously to the surface of the advancing web oppositethe printed surface adjacent to the prepared continuous fold line and means for refolding the narrow portion of the web and sealing the refolded section to prepare a folded reinforced edge along the continuous shopping bag material. The sixth machine station comprises means for attaching shaped handles with a reinforcing patch to the advancing web at uniformly spaced locations. The seventh machine station comprises means for notching the edge of the advancing web and slitting the edge of the advancing web opposite alternate applied handles. The eighth machine station comprises means for forming a flat shopping bag tube. The ninth machine station comprises means for rotating the formed handled shopping bag tube substantially 90 to cause the notched and slit edge of the tube to lead in the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWlNGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shopping bag with shaped handles attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top part of a shopping bag showing a further reinforcing embodiment in dotted lines;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are an elevation view of the inline apparatus of this invention;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are sketches of the shopping bag material showing steps of the process of the invention as performed by the section of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sketches of the shopping bag material showing a continuation of the process of this invention as performed by the section of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are sketches of a further continuation of the process of the invention as performed by the section of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are sketches of the final steps of the process of the invention as performed by the section of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 21 is a detailed section of the apparatus of FIG. 3 as shown at section 21 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 22 is a detailed section of the apparatus of FIG. 3 as shown at section 22 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 23 is a detailed section of FIG. 21 as shown at section 23 in FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a detailed section of the apparatus of FIG. 3 as shown at section 24 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 25 is a detailed section of the apparatus as shown at section 25 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 26 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 3 which refolds and seals the edge of the continuous shopping bag material;

FIG. 27 is a perspective sketch of apart of the apparatus of FIG. 4 which notches and slits the edge of the shopping bag material;

FIG. 28 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus shown in both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 for inserting four of the perpendicular folds across the shopping bag blank;

FIG 29 is an enlargement of a section of FIG. 28 showing a part of the apparatus for providing the folds in the shopping bag material;

FIG. 30 is a perspective sketch of the part of the apparatus of FIG. 5 for preparing the shopping bag tube from the shopping bag material;

FIG. 31 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5 showing a further development in the preparation of a shopping bag tube as begun in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a perspective sketch of a part of the armaratus of FIG. 5 showing detail of the apparatus for the rotation of the shopping bag tube approximately 90;

FIG. 33 is a detailed sketch of the rotating apparatus of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5 which provides the gusseted sides in the shopping bag tube;

FIG. 35 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 showing apparatus for beginning the bottoming operation on a shopping bag tube;

FIG. 36 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing the apparatus of FIG. 36 from another direction and a further step in the bottoming operation;

FIG. 37 is a sketch to explain further detail of the apparatus of FIG. 35 and FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a perspective sketch of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing apparatus for the completion of the bottoming process.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In all instances like numbers refer to like parts. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, shopping bag 10 which may be prepared from any suitable sheet material such as paper, plastic or combinations thereof has a folded and sealed bottom 11, two 0pposing sidewalls l2 and 13 and gusseted sides 14 and 15. At the too of the bag 16. there is a full tumed-top edge 17 which extends completely around the opening of the bag to provide a reinforced opening free from sharp or rough edges. Handles 18 and 19 may be of any suitable shape and may be prepared from cord, twine, twisted paper, plastic or other suitable material. In accordance with this invention, it is preferred that the handles be Ushaped and that one of the handles be slightly larger than the other so that when the bag is in the closed position one handle will nest inside the other one for easy packing and shipment. Each handle is located over the turned-top edge 17 and is reinforced in the mounting by reinforcing patch 20 which may be adhered to the handle and to the reinforcing edge and sidewall of the bag by any suitable means such as an adhesive, stapling or other. The shopping bag tube is sealed along edge 2I as shown more clearly in FIG. 2 by an adhesive or other means along the entire edge.

Another preferred embodiment of this invention is indicated in FIG. 2 by dotted lines 23 and 24 extending around the entire inside of the opening of the shopping bag. This dotted line is to indicate the possible extension of reinforcing patch 20 completely around the inside of the opening or to any partial portion thereof.

The apparatus of the invention is shown in elevation in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the process of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17,18,19 and 20. For ease in understanding of both the process and apparatus, steps in the process of the invention have been located in the drawing above the various stations of the apparatus in the elevation FIGS. so that easy reference may be made thereto, Accordingly, the process and the apparatus of this embodiment will be described concurrently.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9, substantially unifonn width shopping bag material 30 is supplied to the process and apparatus of the invention on a substantially continuous basis from a roll of shopping bag material 31 through a series of guide rollers 32, 34, 35, 36,37 and 38 supported by frames 33 and 39 to constant tensioning apparatus 40. Means is provided for a second roll of shopping bag material 41 to provide a continuous supply of shopping bag material to the apparatus at all times. Shopping bag material 42 from roll 41 is attached at splicing means 43; and when roll 31 is substantially depleted, lever 44 may be rotated manually or automatically on shaft 45 to bond glue line 46 to shopping bag material 30 at against roll 32 causing the shopping bag material 42 to become joined to shopping bag material 30 from roll 31 to permit the removal of the substantially empty roll 31. Simultaneously with the joining of shopping bag material 42 to shopping bag material 30 cutting means 47 which may be a fine wire or other suitable cutting device is activated causing the separation of the shopping bag material 30 between roll 32 and supply roll 31. Following this movement of roll 41 to substantially the position of previously located roll 31 by gear chain carrying means 48 may be made to permit the location of another new roll of shopping bag material at the location of roll 41 as shown.

Shopping bag material 30 next enters constant tensioning means 40 which consists of a V-like chamber defined by rods 49 and 50 supported by frames 39 and 51. Two rods substantially identical in shape to rods 49 and 50 are located on the other side of the apparatus behind rods 49 and S0 to support the other endof roll 52 which is supported by shopping bag material 30 in the V-shaped chamber and provides the constant weight on the shopping bag material to provide the constant tensioning of the shopping bag material. As shopping bag material 30 moves continuously at a substantially constant velocity to other subsequent stations of the apparatus rod 52 moves up and down in a vertical manner within the constant tensioning means 40 with ends 53 and 54 of roll 52 being guided between rods 49 and 50 and the like pair on the opposite side of the apparatus. In operation, the shopping bag material from the supply roll is unwound at a rate greater than the constant velocity of the shopping bag material to subsequent machine stations in the apparatus following the constant tension station so that roll 52 moves down within constant tensioning means 40 taking up the surplus shopping bag material until end'53'of roll 52 contacts activating lever arm 56 activating switch 55 at the bottom of constant tensioning means 40. At thispoint, supply drive roll 57 is raised by lever arm 58 operated by hydraulic cylinder'o'r other means, not shown, which has been activatedby the activation of limit switch 55. In this manner, shopping bag material stops on carrier roll 59 causing no additional shoppingbag material to move to the constant tensioning means.'As shopping bag material moves on continuously to subsequent stations, roll 52 is raised within constant tensioning means 40 to upper point permitting limit switch 55 to be deactivated. When limit switch is deactivated, drive roll 57 again moves in contact with shopping bag material on carrier roll'59 and shopping bag material is again fedto the constant tensioning apparatus at a rate greater than the velocity of the material to the subsequent stations. In this manner, constant tensioned material is provided by providing a constant weight upon the material which weight oscillates continuously in a vertical'manner within the guide rods of the constant tensioning apparatus. I

Shopping bag material 30 leaving-constant tensioning a paratusovercarrier roll 60 next passes through a machine station for folding and unfolding a lateral edge of the continuous constant tensioned material. As shown in process sketch FIG. 8, a narrow portion of the material is folded along edge 61, as indicated at .62, and then unfolded at 63 leaving a prepared fold line 64, running. laterally along the edge of the material. The apparatus for 'folding and unfolding the edge of the material is adjustable for different widths of shopping bag material and is shown most clearly in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23; and referring now to-FIGS. 3, 21 22 and 23, shopping bag material 30 is folded graduallyby turning sleet/e65 andthe final fold pinched by the end ;of the sleeve 66 to give a folded edge 67, shown also in FIG. 8. Aftershopping bag material 30 with the folded edge 67 passes around roll 68 rotatably'supported by framework 69 and 70, it is then unfolded by opening sleeve 71 shown in FIG. 22.

The lateral location of closing sleeve 65 and opening sleeve 71 is adjustable and the adjustment is made simultaneously so that the lateral locationof the closing sleeve 65 and opening sleeve 71 are always the same in reference to edge 61 of theshopping bag material. To change the lateral location of the opening and closing sleeves, knob.75 is rotated by hand or other means causing drive chain 76 to rotate threaded member 77 for the closing sleeve and threaded member 78 for the opening sleeve tobe rotated and drive chain 79 to rotate a second threaded member under bar 83; These threaded members are rotated within threaded adjustment means 81 and 82 causing the closing sleeve 65 to rnove'on rods 83 and 84 in a lateral direction at the same time opening sleeve 71 is moved plied adjacent to the previously prepared fold line and the lateral edge of the shopping bag material is refolded and glued to prepare the continuous reinforced edge which becomes the continuous turned-top edge of the completed shopping bag.

- Referring now to FIGS. 3, 24, 25 and 26, glue pot 120 is adjustable laterally by movement on rod 121 so that the location of the glue line 136 being applied continuously by glue wheel 122 may be change for effective operation in accordance with the process and apparatus of this invention. Glue may be applied to the shopping bag material side or the edge side of the prepared fold line 64. It is preferred, however, that the glue be applied to the shopping bag material side of the fold line as shown in FIG. 24. Support and guide rolls 123 and 124'may be shortened so that applied glue line 136 does not contact the rolls. As shown in FIG. 26, shopping bag material then proceeds across bed plate 130 through the spring folding and sealing arm 131 which is afiixed to plate 130 by bolts 132 and 133. Spring arm 131 is constructed and arranged to curl the edge of shopping bag material 30 over on previously prepared fold line 64 and then to make first sealing contact at point 135 against adhesive line 136 applied previously.

Next in the process as shown in FIGS; 9 and 10 adhesive is applied at uniformly spaced locations along the continuously sealed folded edge and the underlying shopping bag material for receipt of the prepared shopping bag handles with reinforcing patch. In FIG. 9 and 10 adhesive location 141 is shown. In FIGS. 3 and 25, adhesive is applied from glue pot 143 by means of roll 144 which applies adhesive to raised portions 145 and 146 on wheel 147 supported by axle 148 within support means 149 carried by frame 150. Shopping bag material leaving spring arm means 131 is pressed by rolls 151 and 152 to seal the folded edge and is then carried over guide I rolls 153 and 154 to back up roll 155. In operation, wheel 147 shopping bag material 30 against roll 155 to prepare uniformly in the same lateral direction for the same distance on rods 85 I and 86.

After leaving the above folding and unfolding machine station, shopping bag material 30 then passes through a printing station where one or more colors may be printed on one or more surfaces of the shopping bag material and the printed material dried. As shown in FIG. 3, the printing station comprises printing rolls 95, 96and 97 which may contact shopping bag material 30 against rolls 98, 99 and 100, respectively. Ink or other coloring material may be supplied to the printing rolls from containers 101, 102, 103 by rolls 104, 105 and 106 to rolls 107, 108 and 109, respectively. As can be seen clearly, one or more of these printing rolls may be used at any one time. After leaving printing rolls, the printing on the shopping bag material may be dried by a bank of heat lamps 115 or other suitable means, if desired. It is to be noted that by the process and apparatus of this invention, any printing which appears on the outside of a shopping bag when completed also appears on the inside of the completed shopping bag around the top'of the shopping bag on the turned-top reinforcing edge.

After the printing, if any, dried, when necessary, shopping bag material 30 under constant tension then proceeds to the gluing, folding and sealing machine station where glueis apspaced adhesive locations such as indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10 as 141.

As shown in FIG. 25, the rotation rate of glue wheel 147 may be adjusted by changing the drive relationship of the drive mechanism with the gear package 156 and the space locations and size of adhesive patch 141 and companion patch laid by the second raised portion thereon and may be changed by changing the size and location of the raised portions and 146 on glue wheel 147 by supplying alternate glue wheels.

Following the application of adhesive to the uniformly spaced locations, handles with reinforcing patches attached thereto are applied to the adhesive locations. Handles and 171 are prepared by machines and 181, respectively, and applied to the continuous shopping bag material at adjacent adhesive locations. In FIGS. 3 and 4 machine 180 prepares handle 170 with reinforcing patch 172 attached and then seals the prepared handled and reinforcing patch to the continuous shopping bag material over the turned-top reinforcing edge to the shopping bag material. Machine 181 prepares handle 171 with reinforcing patch 173 attached and seals the handle and patch to the shopping bag material at its adjacent adhesive location.

As shown in FIG. 10 continuous shopping bag material having handles with reinforcing patches attached continues to the next machine station where notches and 191 are prepared in the edge of the shopping bag material opposite handle 171 and slits 192 and 193 are prepared in the edge of the shopping bag material opposite handle 170. If desired, notches 190 and 191 may be located opposite handle 170 and slits 192 and 193 may be located opposite handle 171. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 27, continuous shopping bag material with handles attached is carried by drive rolls 230 and 231 across bed 200 supported by frame 201 where notching means 202 and slitting means 203 and severing means 204 are located. Each of these means are operated in timed relation with the velocity of the shopping bag material 30 across bedplate 200 so that the notches and slits are uniform in location in reference to the handles and a desired length of shopping bag material to prepare a shopping bag blank is severed. Shopping bag material 30 passes across bedplate 200 with notching means 202 rotating in the direction indicated by arrow 196 and notches shopping bag material along the lateral edge opposite handle 171 by striking the paper through bedplate cut out sections 207 and 208 by means of protruding notching means 209 and 210. The slitting means then slits the paper along the lateral edge opposite handle 170 by knives 21 1, 212, 213 and 214. As can be seen clearly, the location of the notching and slitting means may be changed in the process and apparatus by reversing the location of notching means 202 and slitting means 203 so that the slitting means precedes the notching means. Also, the distance between the notches may be changed by changing the location of protruding notching means 209 and 210 on roll 206 and the distance between the prepared slits may be changed by changing the location of knives 211, 212, 213 and 214 on knife wheel 215.

Severing means 204 is rotated in timed relation with the velocity of shopping bag material across bed 200 to provide a shopping bag tube blank having two handles and in a desired dimension to produce a shopping bag tube of a desired diameter. In FIGS. 4 and 27, roll 221 is rotated one revolution causing knife 216 to sever the shopping bag material against fixed knife 217 with each rotation.

After severing, rolls 219 and 220 operating in combination with roll 218 at a slightly higher velocity than the other drive rolls of the apparatus and rolls 231, 232, 233 and 234 carrying two opposed web belts, move the shopping bag severed blank 205 apart from the continuous shopping bag material 30 to produce a space 222 between the continuous shopping bag material and the severed blank. After formation of the space, the severed blank moves at substantially the same velocity through the inline apparatus as does the continuous shopping bag material.

After the severed blank 205 is prepared from the continuous shopping bag material 30 and accelerated to produce space 222, the severed blank is carried to a nipper and tucker bar assembly means 244 shown in greater detail in FIG. 28. In this machine station as shown in the process of FIG. 12, the six folds or creases substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edge 246 of the severed blank are prepared. Nipper and tucker bar 250 rotating at a controlled rate of speed in reference to the movement of the severed blank on shaft 251 supported by means 252 and 253 and driven by gear means indicated at 254 contacts the moving severed blank first with protruding edge 255 which presses a portion of the severed blank into a cam actuated gripper in drum 256 turning at the same circumferential velocity as nipper and tucker bar 250. After pinching the depressed portion of the shopping bag blank depressed by bar 255, a raised portion 280 on drum 256 presses a second portion of the severed length into gripper 259 on nipper and tucker bar 250 to make a second parallel groove in the shopping bag material blank. Two folds or creases made in the shopping bag material in this fashion are shown in profile in FIGS. 11 and 12 as 260 and 261. The second set of protruding edge 265 and gripper 266 on nipper and tucker bar assembly 250 contact a second section of the severed shopping bag blank and operate in the same fashion in contact with a second set gripper and raised portion in drum 256 to prepare the second set of grooves indicated in FIG. 12 as 267 and 268.

The operation of nipper and tucker assembly means in this station is shown more clearly in sketch form in FIG. 29 where severed blank 205 is shown between nipper and tucker means 250 and drum 256. As can be seen from this sketch, bar 255 depresses a portion of the shopping bag material into gripper 273 and cam or spring operated lever 274 in gripper 273 rotating on pin 275 pinches the depressed portion of the shopping bag material to form fold or crease 260. Following this, bar 280 on drum 256 presses a portion of the shopping bag material into slot 259 on nipper and tucker means 250 where spring or cam operated lever 282 pinches the material against bar 280 to form fold or crease 261. As will be understood clearly, bar 265 and gripper 266 operating on another portion of nipper and tucker assembly 250 mate against similar portions on drum 256 to form the second set of folds or creases 267 and 268.

The severed shopping bag blank having now four longitudinal folds or creases is carried by rolls 271 and 272 to the next portion of the machine station where the final two of the six longitudinal folds or creases are inserted and a shopping bag tube 290 is formed. Referring now to FIGS. 5, 30 and 31, the preparation of the final two longitudinal folds or creases and the folding and sealing of the shopping bag tube will be described in sequence operation. Severed blank 205 approaches the folding and sealing apparatus 300 where it is contacted first along the leading edge 301 with rotating glue bar 302. Adhesive or glue is applied to rotating glue bar 302 from glue pot 303 by rotating roll 304 all of which are supported by support means 305. Glue on the face 307 of rotating glue bar 302 is applied on the upper surface of the severed blank 205 at the leading edge as shown at 308. The moving blank is next contacted by bar 309 having raised edge 310 which forces blank 205 into groove 311 of rotating drum 312 supported by shaft 313 in support member 299. The folded section of blank 205 is held within groove 311 by spring or cam means as described previously while the drum rotates in the direction shown by arrow 314 and leading edge of blank 205 having glue line 308 proceeds forward on to support plate 315. As drum 312 continues to rotate further in the direction as shown by arrow 314, second fold arm 316 of gluing and folding apparatus 317 supported on shaft 318 rotating in support means 319 and 320 contacts blank 205 adjacent'to the trailing edge by raised edge 321 forcing the blank into groove 322 also located in drum 312 where fold 323 is formed. After preparing fold 323, gripper arms 324 actuated by cam or spring mechanism within drum 312 by the rotation of drum 312 move forward to fold the trailing edge 325 of blank 205 at the prepared fold line 323 on top of blank 205 and hold it there while drum 312 continues to rotate with roll 326 supported by shaft 327 pressing the two layers of the blank together and joining the glue edge 308 to the infolded trailing edge 325 to form the sealed bag tube after release of gripper arms 324 and their return to the drum surface. The folded sealed shopping bag tube is then held under pressure and carried to the next machine station by a series of belts 329, 330 and 331 supported by rolls 332, 333 and 334, respectively.

In the next machine station, prepared shopping bag tubes 290 are rotated approximately and the gussets formed in each side at the second and third folds 260 and 261 from the leading end on one side and the fourth and fifth folds 267 and 268 from the leading end on the other side. Referring now to FIGS. 5, 13, 14, 15, 32, 33 and 34, the process and apparatus of this station will be described. The sealed shopping bag tube as shown in FIG. 13 is rotated 90 to position as shown in FIG. 14 with the notched and slit edge leading and the handles trailing and then the gussets formed in each side to form an unbottomed shopping bag blank with the handles mating as shown in FIG. 15. Shopping bag blank 290 is carried forward in the inline apparatus by rolls 336 to rolls 335 having follower rolls 337 which rest upon the blank by lever means 333 and 339 supported by shaft 340 through shaft support means 341. Follower rolls hold blank 290 against drive rolls 335 forcing the blank under tilted rotating wheel 342. Tilted rotating wheel 342 and attending apparatus are supported on rotatable shaft 343 and may be prepared from rubber or any other plastic or rubber and plastic combination material having good frictional properties for the shopping bag material used. As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, as shopping bag blank 290 approuhes proper register on plate 350, gripper point 351 on lever arm 352 attached to shaft 343 moves in the direction of arrow 353 to grip the shopping bag blank in the approximate center against the backup plate 334; and rotating disc 342, rotating in the direction of arrow 354, grips a shopping bag blank through opening 355 against a mating rotating wheel 356 rotating in the direction of arrow 357 and rotates the shopping bag blank approximately 90 as shown by arrow 358. Guide roller 359 on lever arm 360 supported by shaft 361 may be provided to keep the rotating shopping bag edge flat during rotation and to provide inline forward movement of the rotated bag.

After rotation, the rotated shopping bag blank 290 is carried by rolls 363,- 364, 365 and 366 to rotatable stop 367 which is actuated to the up position by suitable means by the passage of blank 290 through rolls 365 and 366. Upon reaching stop 367 in the up position, gripper arms 368 and 369 are actuated to hold the edge 370 of the shopping bag blank. Following this, vacuum means 371 having vacuum ports 372, 373 and 362 comes into' register adjacent to the fold260, first fold from the leading edge of the shopping bag blank, and vacuum from supply hose 375, from source not shown, is applied against the surface of the shopping bag blank. Then, vacuummeans 371 is rotated through a substantially 180 are by arms 391 and 392 supporting vacuum means i 371 through pins 374 and 375. The rotation through an approximately l80arc is carried'out by-partial drive gear 376 acting on gear 377 fixedly attached to shaft 378 for arm 391 and through idler gear 379 to gear 380 fixedly attached to shift 381 attached to arm 392; Reciprocating drive means, not shown, operates partial gear 376 througharm 381, lever 382 and shaft 383 fixedly attached to gear 376.

After vacuum means 371 has operated through approximately 90 of its 180 arc cycle, platen 400, supported by arm 401 on .pin 402, and operated by reciprocating means not shown through shaft 403; presses the raised side 404 of the shopping bag blank at side 405 to complete the fold of the shopping bag at that side at fold lines267 and 268, the fourth and fifth fold lines from the leading edge. The completion of the arc cycle of vacuummeans 371 causes the forward rotation and lowering of pins 367, the removal of vacuum from the vacuum means and the raising of platen 390 so that the gusseted unbottomed shopping bag blank as shown in FIG. may be carried by rolls 406 and 407 andgrippers 368 and 369 to the next station of the apparatus where bottoming of the gusseted tube is completed. g

The gusseted unbottomed shopping bag tube is carried into the bottoming machine station by a series of pressing rolls 430, 431, 432 and 433 which crease the gusseted sides firmly and the creased gusseted side shopping bag tube 434, FIG. 35, has three creases 435,436 and 437 placed therein as shown in FIG. 16 by the apparatus indicated at 438 in FIG. 5. Referring now to FIG. 35, gusseted shopping bag tube 434 is carried on bed 439 supported by frame 440 to double-creasing arm means 441. Rotating double-creasing apparatus 441 contacts bag tube 434 first with creasing arms 442 rotatable supported by support arms 443and 444 on shaft 445 and operated in timed relation with the forward movement of bag tube 434. Arms 442 prepare two creases approximately thedepth of the gusset in each side of the shopping bag tube a predetermined distance from the bottom of the tube, and then full creasing arm 446 preparesa second crease 435 across the width of the gusseted shopping bag tube. These creases at the predetermined locations on the shopping bag tube facilitate opening of the bottom for the bottoming operation and creasing arms 442 and 446 press against mating slots in backup roll 447.

Following this, vacuum ports 448 and 449 in top gripper roll 450 grip the top of the bag as it passes'between roll 450 and bottoming drum 451 and raise the top portion of the tube as unbottomed bag 434 passes out from between the roll and the drum. Then cam operated grippers 452 and 453, normally in the closed position, are raised and grip the top of the bag along the side within the gusseted section. as shown in FIG. 36. Simultaneously, edge grippers 454 and a similar gripper on the other. side of bottoming drum 451, not shown, crease the bottom portion of the bag within the gusseted section after bottom grippers 455 and 456 located on the surface of bottoming drum451 grip through the leading end of the bag atnotches 190 and 191 to permit the opening of the bottom as shown in FIG. 36. This operation between the roll 450 and drum 451 is shown in sketch form in FIG. 37 where bag 434 having folds 435, 436 and 437 is gripped by bottom grippers 455 and 456 through notches 190 and 191 so thatonly the bottom portion of the end of the bag is gripped by grippers 455 and 456 and then as roll 450 and drum 451 continue in the rotation as indicated at the arrows 457 and 458, respectively, the bottom is opened and the gusseted ends folded along slits 192 and 193 as shown in FIG. 17. Edge guides 459 and 460 may be pro vided to facilitate the infolding of the gusseted sides of the bottom.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 18, 19 and 38, the opened unbottomed shopping bag tube as shown in FIG. 18 is carried by grippers 455 and 456 on drum 451, after release of grippers 452 and 453 of roll 450 and vacuum from ports 448 and 449 in roll, to crease the edges of the partially bottomed bag in its open position.

Next, adhesive is applied to the open folded section of the bottom of the shopping bag tube as shown at 480 in FIG. 18. Adhesive from the adhesive pot 481 is applied by roller 482 to bottom adhesive bar 483 which rotates in the direction shown at 484 in FIG. 38 on shaft-485 supported by support means 486. After adhesive has been applied and while grippers 455 and 456 continue to hold the leading edge of the open bottom shopping bag tube to thesurface of drum 451, rotating fold bar 487 supported by shaft 488 and rotatingin the direction of 489 contacts the shopping bag first with bar 490 pressing the shopping bag into groove 491 of drum 451. Then, bar 492 of rotating fold bar 487 presses the shopping bag into groove 493. In this fashion, the slotted edge of the bottom 494 is forced away from the surface of rotating drum 451 for contact with the first bottom fold apparatus 500.

As drum 451 continues to rotate, first fold bar 501 carried by chains 502 and 503 and operated in a reciprocating manner in timed relation with the rotation of drum 451 bythe rotation of shafts 504 and 505 so that fold bar 501 in its travel toward drum 451 approaches the shopping bag bottom flap 494 and the bag surface 506 behind the raised bottom flap. In its further travel the first fold bar forces flap 494 on top of surface 507 folding flap 494 at the fold line prepared by groove 492 in drum 451. Following this grippers 455 and 456 are retracted by the rotation of drum 451 permitting closing flap 508 of the shopping bag to raise from the surface of drum 451 where it is contacted on the surface previously against drum 451 by fixed closing bar 509. The bottomed shopping bag is then carried between drum 451 and roll 510 for initial sealing and then falls to the surface of drum 511 as shown in FIG. 5 and is carried around drum 511 by rolls and belt means 512 and 513 and then deposited on belt-carrying means 514 and 515 to be carried forward to final belt-sealing means 516 and 517 supported by rolls 518, 519, 520, 521, 522 and 523 and rolls 518, 519, 523, 524, 525 and 526, respectively. FIG. 19 shows the sealed handled shopping bag as carried between belt-sealing means 516 and 517 as it approaches the final stacking means 530 where units of shopping bags may be stacked for wrapping and shipping as indicated at 540 in FIG. 20.

As can be seen clearly, the advantages of the novel inline apparatus and process of this invention are many. The inline apparatus permits the continuous manufacture of handled shopping bags of improved design with a minimum of hand operations in a minimum of space in a factory location. Also, the process and apparatus of the invention permits the continuous manufacture of handled shopping bags of an improved design from rolled shopping bag material with a minimum of waste. As can be seen also, the process of the invention can be utilized by other apparatus different from that disclosed heretofore, and in fact, is adaptable to complete or partial hand operation if necessary or desirable. I claim:

1. A continuous process for preparing handled shopping bags comprising in combination, the sequential steps of;

a. providing a continuous supply of substantially uniform width shopping bag material to a constant tensioning means;

b. folding and unfolding a portion of one side of the constant tensioned shopping bag material to prepare a continuous fold line along one side of the material;

c. applying adhesive to the unfolded material between the edge of the material and the continuous fold line;

d. refolding and sealing the material along the prepared continuous fold line to make a sealed continuous folded edge;

. applying adhesive at uniformly spaced locations along the sealed continuous folded edge, said adhesive overlapping the folded edge and the underlying continuous shopping bag material; attaching alternately a prepared short and a prepared long shopping bag handle to each of the uniformly spaced adhesive locations;

g. notching the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached short handle;

h. slitting the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached long handle;

. separating a length of shopping bag material from the continuous constant tensioned shopping bag material, said separated length having a leading end and a trailing end and having one short and one long attached handle on one edge and being of sufficient length to prepare a handled shopping bag tube of desired dimensions; preparing three fold lines substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge across the handled separated length at each of two locations, one of said two locations being between the two attached handles and the other of said two locations being between the trailing end and the handle adjacent to said trailing end;

k. applying adhesive across the width of the separated length on the surface adjacent to the leading end;

I. holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold on top of the separated length;

m. holding the separated length by the third fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third fold on top of the separated length to form a flat unbottomed shopping bag tube with the adhesive coated leading edge contacting the folded trailing end;

n. sealing the adhesive-coated leading edge with folded trailing end;

0. rotating the prepared unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 90;

p. forming a gusseted side on each side of the rotated shopping bag tube by infolding the tube at the first and second fold lines from the leading edge on one side of the tube and infolding at the fourth and fifth fold itnS from the leading edge on the other side; and

q. folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube.

2. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching the unfolded edge being opposite each attached long handle and said slitting the unfolded edge being opposite each attached short handle.

3. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching causing two U-shaped notches.

4. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said slitting causing two slits.

5. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching or slitting steps being performed prior to a handle attachment step.

6. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching or slitting steps being performed before the tubing step.

7. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said prepared short and said prepared long shopping bag handle are provided with a reinforcing strip.

8. The process of claim I further characterized by said sealed continuous folded edge being provided with additional reinforcing material to make an additionally reinforced folded edge.

9. The process of claim 8 further characterized by said additional reinforcing material being continuous.

0. The process of claim 8 further characterized by said additional reinforcing being discontinuous.

11. The process of claim 1 further characterized by printing being applied to at least one side of said constant tensioned shopping bag material between steps b and c.

12. The process of claim 11 further characterized by said printing comprising a drying step.

13. A continuous process for preparing handled shopping bags comprising, in combination, the sequential steps of;

a. providing a continuous supply of substantially uniform width shopping bag material to a constant tensioning means;

b. applying adhesive at one edge of said constant tensioned shopping bag material along a minor portion of one side of said material;

c. folding and sealing the adhesive covered side on said shopping bag material to provide a sealed continuous folded edge;

(1. applying adhesive at uniformly spaced locations along the sealed continuous folded edge, said adhesive overlapping the folded edge and the underlying continuous shopping bag material;

e. attaching alternately a prepared short and a prepared long shopping bag handle to each of the uniformly space adhesive locations;

f. notching the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached short handle;

g. slitting the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached long handle;

h. separating a length of shopping bag material from the continuous constant tensioned shopping bag material, said separated length having a leading end and a trailing end and having one short and one long attached handled on one edge and being of sufficient length to prepare a handled shopping bag tube of desired dimensions;

. preparing three fold lines substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge across the handled separated length at each of two locations, one of said two locations being between the two attached handles and the other of said two locations being between the trailing end and the handle adjacent to said trailing end;

j. applying adhesive across the width of the separated length on the surface adjacent to the leading end;

k. holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold on top of the separated length;

. holding the separated length by the third fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third fold on top of the separated length to form a flat unbottomed shopping bag tube with the adhesive coated leading edge contacting the folded trailing end;

m. sealing the adhesive coated leading edge with the folded trailing end;

n. rotating the prepared unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 0. forming a gusseted side on each side of the rotated shopping bag tube by infolding the tube at the first and second fold lines from the leading edge on one side of the tube and infolding at the fourth and fifth fold lines from the leading edge on the other side; and

p. folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube.

14. The process of claim 12 further characterized by said sealed continuous folded edge being provided with additional reinforcing material to make an additionally reinforced edge.

15. In a machine for preparing handled shopping bags continuously from a substantially uniform width roll of shopping bag material by withdrawing a web of shopping bag material from a roll and advancing the withdrawn web continuously past machine stations, the improvement comprising in combination, a series of inline machine stations comprising;

a. a first station, including mounting means for at least two rolls of shopping bag material having means to provide a continuous web to the subsequent inline machine stations whereby when one roll of shopping bag material is substantially depleted the leading end of a new roll of shopping bag material is joined to, thecontinuously advancing web from the substantially depleted roll and the material from the substantially depleted roll is severed behind the joint;

a second machine station, including rollers for carrying the advancing web, comprising a constant tensioning means, said constant tension means comprising an upper and a lower limit switch,.a vertical guide means and a free cylindrical bar located between the guide means and supported only by said web in a vertical loop of said web whereby when w the advancing web to a subsequent machine station substantially depletes said vertical loop the free cylindrical'bar contacts said upperlimitswitch causing web to be unrolled in said first station to increase the vertical loop until the free cylindrical bar contacts the lower limit switch; I 1

c. a third machine'station, including rollers for carrying the web, having a means for continuously folding and a means for then unfolding the advancing web along a line spaced inwardly from one longitudinal'edge of theadvancing web-to prepare a continuous fold line acting to divide the web into a narrow portion to be used as a v folded reinforcing edge and a body portion;

d. a fourth machine. station, including rollers for carrying the web, having means to print at least one color on at least a part of the surface of the advancing web;

e. a fifth machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, having means to prepare a folded sealed continuous unbroken reinforced edge, said means comprising a means for applying adhesive continuously to the surface of the advancing web opposite to the printed surface at a location adjacent to the prepared continuous'fold line, means for refolding the narrow portion of the webinto its first folded position and means for sealing the narrow portion of the web in its first folded position by the adhesive placed adjacent to theprepared'continuous fold line;

f. a sixth machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, comprising a means for attaching shaped handles with a reinforcing patch to the advancing web, said means attaching preformed shaped handles comprising a means for preparing said shaped handles in timed relation with the movement of the web, means for applying and joining a reinforcing patch to each prepared shaped handle,-

means for applying adhesive on the surface at the advancing web at uniformly spaced locations over the sealed continuous folded edge, means for applying each prepared shaped handle with attached reinforcing patch to the uniformly spaced adhesive locations with the handles projectingoutwardly beyond the folded reinforced edge of the web, and means for sealing each applied handle and reinforcing patch to the advancing web; a seventh machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, having means for notchingthe edge of the advancing web opposite one applied handle and means for slitting the edge of the advancing web opposite the next applied handle, said notching and slitting being in timed relation to the advancing web to provide notching and slitting alternately opposite each attached handle;

h. an eighth machine station having means for forming a shopping bag tube from said advancing web, said means for forming a tube'comprising a means for severing a predetermined length of advancing web having a first and a second handle attached thereto, means for momentarily accelerating the velocity of the severed length to provide LL a space between the advancing web and the severed length, means for nipping and tucking six substantially perpendicular fold lines across the severed length, said first three of said six fold lines being located approximately midway between the first and second handles and the second three of said six fold lines being located between the second handle and the severed end of the length means for applying adhesive across'the leading edge of said severed length, means for grasping the severed length by the third and sixth fold lines from the leading edge. means for first folding the severed end on top of the severed blank at the sixth fold line and then folding the leading edge at the third fold line on top of the folded severed end, and means for sealing the folded adhesivecoated leading edge with the folded severed end; i. a ninth machine. station, including rollers for carrying the r formed handled shopping bag tube, comprising means for l rotating the formed handled shopping bag tube substantially 90 to cause the notched and slotted edge of the tube to lead in the inline direction of the machine and the 1 handled edge of the tube to follow and a means for infolding the sides of the rotated tube at the first and second .folds on one side and the fourth and fifth folds on the: other to prepare a flat rectangular handled shopping bag tube having two gusseted sides; and j. a tenth machine station comprising means for folding and sealing the leading notched and slotted edge of the flat handled shopping bag tube to provide a sealed bottom for the handled tube.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for continuously folding and said means for then un-i folding of said third machine station being adjustable in the direction of the width of said web of shopping bag material to permit the folding and unfolding of the longitudinal edge of webs of different widths. 17. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means to print at least one color in said fourth machine station comprising three means for printing at least one color,

operated series and a means for drying the resulting printing.

means for applying adhesive continuously to the surface of the advancing web in said fifth machine station being adjustable in the direction of the width of the web of the shopping bag material to permit the application of adhesive to webs of different widths.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for refolding and said means for scaling in said fifth machine station comprising a base plate for carrying the ad-' vancing web and a rod mounted to said base plate adjacent to the edge of the advancing web, said rod being constructed and arranged to overlap the web partially to curl the edge of the advancing web inwardly first and then to press the curled edge firmly and smoothly against the surface of the advancing web.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for notching in said seventh machine station compris- 

1. A continuous process for preparing handled shopping bags comprising in combination, the sequential steps of; a. providing a continuous supply of substantially uniform width shopping bag material to a constant tensioning means; b. folding and unfolding a portion of one side of the constant tensioned shopping bag material to prepare a continuous fold line along one side of the material; c. applying adhesive to the unfolded material between the edge of the material and the continuous fold line; d. refolding and sealing the material along the prepared continuous fold line to make a sealed continuous folded edge; e. applying adhesive at uniformly spaced locations along the sealed continuous folded edge, said adhesive overlapping the folded edge and the underlying continuous shopping bag material; f. attaching alternately a prepared short and a prepared long shopping bag handle to each of the uniformly spaced adhesive locations; g. notching the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached short handle; h. slitting the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached long handle; i. separating a length of shopping bag material from the continuous constant tensioned shopping bag material, said separated length having a leading end and a trailing end and having one short and one long attached handle on one edge and being of sufficient length to prepare a handled shopping bag tube of desired dimensions; j. preparing three fold lines substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge across the handled separated length at each of two locations, one of said two locations being between the two attached handles and the other of said two locations being between the trailing end and the handle adjacent to said trailing end; k. applying adhesive across the width of the separAted length on the surface adjacent to the leading end; l. holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold on top of the separated length; m. holding the separated length by the third fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third fold on top of the separated length to form a flat unbottomed shopping bag tube with the adhesive coated leading edge contacting the folded trailing end; n. sealing the adhesive-coated leading edge with folded trailing end; o. rotating the prepared unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 90*; p. forming a gusseted side on each side of the rotated shopping bag tube by infolding the tube at the first and second fold lines from the leading edge on one side of the tube and infolding at the fourth and fifth fold lines from the leading edge on the other side; and q. folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube.
 2. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching the unfolded edge being opposite each attached long handle and said slitting the unfolded edge being opposite each attached short handle.
 3. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching causing two U-shaped notches.
 4. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said slitting causing two slits.
 5. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching or slitting steps being performed prior to a handle attachment step.
 6. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said notching or slitting steps being performed before the tubing step.
 7. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said prepared short and said prepared long shopping bag handle are provided with a reinforcing strip.
 8. The process of claim 1 further characterized by said sealed continuous folded edge being provided with additional reinforcing material to make an additionally reinforced folded edge.
 9. The process of claim 8 further characterized by said additional reinforcing material being continuous.
 10. The process of claim 8 further characterized by said additional reinforcing being discontinuous.
 11. The process of claim 1 further characterized by printing being applied to at least one side of said constant tensioned shopping bag material between steps b and c.
 12. The process of claim 11 further characterized by said printing comprising a drying step.
 13. A continuous process for preparing handled shopping bags comprising, in combination, the sequential steps of; a. providing a continuous supply of substantially uniform width shopping bag material to a constant tensioning means; b. applying adhesive at one edge of said constant tensioned shopping bag material along a minor portion of one side of said material; c. folding and sealing the adhesive covered side on said shopping bag material to provide a sealed continuous folded edge; d. applying adhesive at uniformly spaced locations along the sealed continuous folded edge, said adhesive overlapping the folded edge and the underlying continuous shopping bag material; e. attaching alternately a prepared short and a prepared long shopping bag handle to each of the uniformly space adhesive locations; f. notching the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached short handle; g. slitting the unfolded edge of the shopping bag material opposite each attached long handle; h. separating a length of shopping bag material from the continuous constant tensioned shopping bag material, said separated length having a leading end and a trailing end and having one short and one long attached handled on one edge and being of sufficient length to prepare a handled shopping bag tube of desired dimensions; i. preparing three fold lines substantially perpendicular to the sealed folded edge across the handled separated length at each of two locations, one of said two locations being between the two Attached handles and the other of said two locations being between the trailing end and the handle adjacent to said trailing end; j. applying adhesive across the width of the separated length on the surface adjacent to the leading end; k. holding the separated length by the sixth fold from the leading end and folding the trailing end at the sixth fold on top of the separated length; l. holding the separated length by the third fold from the leading end and folding the leading end at the third fold on top of the separated length to form a flat unbottomed shopping bag tube with the adhesive coated leading edge contacting the folded trailing end; m. sealing the adhesive coated leading edge with the folded trailing end; n. rotating the prepared unbottomed shopping bag tube approximately 90*; o. forming a gusseted side on each side of the rotated shopping bag tube by infolding the tube at the first and second fold lines from the leading edge on one side of the tube and infolding at the fourth and fifth fold lines from the leading edge on the other side; and p. folding and sealing the bottom of the gusseted shopping bag tube.
 14. The process of claim 12 further characterized by said sealed continuous folded edge being provided with additional reinforcing material to make an additionally reinforced edge.
 15. In a machine for preparing handled shopping bags continuously from a substantially uniform width roll of shopping bag material by withdrawing a web of shopping bag material from a roll and advancing the withdrawn web continuously past machine stations, the improvement comprising in combination, a series of inline machine stations comprising; a. a first station, including mounting means for at least two rolls of shopping bag material having means to provide a continuous web to the subsequent inline machine stations whereby when one roll of shopping bag material is substantially depleted the leading end of a new roll of shopping bag material is joined to the continuously advancing web from the substantially depleted roll and the material from the substantially depleted roll is severed behind the joint; b. a second machine station, including rollers for carrying the advancing web, comprising a constant tensioning means, said constant tension means comprising an upper and a lower limit switch, a vertical guide means and a free cylindrical bar located between the guide means and supported only by said web in a vertical loop of said web whereby when the advancing web to a subsequent machine station substantially depletes said vertical loop the free cylindrical bar contacts said upper limit switch causing web to be unrolled in said first station to increase the vertical loop until the free cylindrical bar contacts the lower limit switch; c. a third machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, having a means for continuously folding and a means for then unfolding the advancing web along a line spaced inwardly from one longitudinal edge of the advancing web to prepare a continuous fold line acting to divide the web into a narrow portion to be used as a folded reinforcing edge and a body portion; d. a fourth machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, having means to print at least one color on at least a part of the surface of the advancing web; e. a fifth machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, having means to prepare a folded sealed continuous unbroken reinforced edge, said means comprising a means for applying adhesive continuously to the surface of the advancing web opposite to the printed surface at a location adjacent to the prepared continuous fold line, means for refolding the narrow portion of the web into its first folded position and means for sealing the narrow portion of the web in its first folded position by the adhesive placed adjacent to the prepared continuous fold line; f. a sixth machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, compRising a means for attaching shaped handles with a reinforcing patch to the advancing web, said means attaching preformed shaped handles comprising a means for preparing said shaped handles in timed relation with the movement of the web, means for applying and joining a reinforcing patch to each prepared shaped handle, means for applying adhesive on the surface at the advancing web at uniformly spaced locations over the sealed continuous folded edge, means for applying each prepared shaped handle with attached reinforcing patch to the uniformly spaced adhesive locations with the handles projecting outwardly beyond the folded reinforced edge of the web, and means for sealing each applied handle and reinforcing patch to the advancing web; g. a seventh machine station, including rollers for carrying the web, having means for notching the edge of the advancing web opposite one applied handle and means for slitting the edge of the advancing web opposite the next applied handle, said notching and slitting being in timed relation to the advancing web to provide notching and slitting alternately opposite each attached handle; h. an eighth machine station having means for forming a shopping bag tube from said advancing web, said means for forming a tube comprising a means for severing a predetermined length of advancing web having a first and a second handle attached thereto, means for momentarily accelerating the velocity of the severed length to provide a space between the advancing web and the severed length, means for nipping and tucking six substantially perpendicular fold lines across the severed length, said first three of said six fold lines being located approximately midway between the first and second handles and the second three of said six fold lines being located between the second handle and the severed end of the length, means for applying adhesive across the leading edge of said severed length, means for grasping the severed length by the third and sixth fold lines from the leading edge, means for first folding the severed end on top of the severed blank at the sixth fold line and then folding the leading edge at the third fold line on top of the folded severed end, and means for sealing the folded adhesive-coated leading edge with the folded severed end; i. a ninth machine station, including rollers for carrying the formed handled shopping bag tube, comprising means for rotating the formed handled shopping bag tube substantially 90* to cause the notched and slotted edge of the tube to lead in the inline direction of the machine and the handled edge of the tube to follow and a means for infolding the sides of the rotated tube at the first and second folds on one side and the fourth and fifth folds on the other to prepare a flat rectangular handled shopping bag tube having two gusseted sides; and j. a tenth machine station comprising means for folding and sealing the leading notched and slotted edge of the flat handled shopping bag tube to provide a sealed bottom for the handled tube.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for continuously folding and said means for then unfolding of said third machine station being adjustable in the direction of the width of said web of shopping bag material to permit the folding and unfolding of the longitudinal edge of webs of different widths.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means to print at least one color in said fourth machine station comprising three means for printing at least one color operated series and a means for drying the resulting printing.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for applying adhesive continuously to the surface of the advancing web in said fifth machine station being adjustable in the direction of the width of the web of the shopping bag material to permit the application of adhesive to webs of different widths.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for refOlding and said means for sealing in said fifth machine station comprising a base plate for carrying the advancing web and a rod mounted to said base plate adjacent to the edge of the advancing web, said rod being constructed and arranged to overlap the web partially to curl the edge of the advancing web inwardly first and then to press the curled edge firmly and smoothly against the surface of the advancing web.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by said means for notching in said seventh machine station comprising a base plate for carrying the advancing web having two shaped openings along its edge, a cylindrical roller having two extending fingers substantially the same shape as the openings in said base plate and separated along the length of said cylinder the same distance as the distance between the opening said said base plate, and mounting means for rotatably mounting said cylinder horizontally and substantially parallel to edge of said base plate to permit the extending fingers to pass through the shaped openings when the cylinder is rotated in timed relation with the advancing web. 